Machine for forming window channels



y 1935. a. L. PRENTICE CHINE FQR'FORMING WINDOW CHANNELS Filed Feb. 13. 19:50 -s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYJ July 9, 1935. B. L. PRENTICE 2,007,614

' MACHINE FOR FORMING WINDOW CHANNELS Filed Feb. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR July 9, 1935. B. L. PRENTICE 0 v MACHINE FOR FORMING WINDOW CHANNELS Fild Feb. 15, 1930 & Sheets-Sheet a III/I111,

fly. /3 r I INVENTOR M My W ATTO RN EYS Patented m 9, 1935 I 2,007,614

UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE to The Reid Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 13, 1930, Serial No. 428,208

3 Claims. (01. 271-24) This invention relates to machines for form- Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 66, ing window channels such as is commonly em- Fig. Fig. '7 is a side elevation, "on a larger ployed to encase and form guideways for the scale, of the felt manipulating parts; Fig. 8 is edges of glass panes in motor vehicles and the a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the cut- 5 like. 7 oif devices; Fig. 9 is an end view from the left 5 The object of the invention is to provide a comin Fig. 8 Fig. 10 is a detail sectional elevation plete machine embodying all the necessary parts on the line Ill-Ill, Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a detail secfor the continuous production of channel, so tional plan view on the line Ill-ll, 9; that it can be made in indeterminate lengths and Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the speed 10 hence without pauses, such as are necessary when changing mechanism; Fig. 13 is a wiring dia- 10 these channels are madepiece by piece. gram; 14 is a detail perspective View Of the A further object of the invention is to proproduct; and Fig. 15 is a detail view of cervide,- in a machine of this kind, means enabling tain trigger mechanism. it to take care of the splicing of the overlying .The present mac e is adapted f c t uous 15 or superimposed plies of metal and fabric, such operation to Te int!) y suitable des d 15,

as the splicing of the following and leading ends hap eith a single P y a Composite of successive spools of metal strip or of felt, or bon, but it is more particularly designe o p other fabric, as the case may be. duce composite material. In the particular form A further object of. the invention is to proshown in the drawin s, t machine s d ed vide a machine including automatic compenfor the production of a window channel of the g0 sators by whicheither the later or earlier stages n ra f rm shown in F 14 and p i i a or portions of the machine may be stopped at e t metal b y po b t int a y desirwill, the stopping of one part of the machine b Channel form, said strip being meted 011 not interfering with the operation of another both surfaces with a rubber layer 2 thickened part, all for the purpose of enabling splices to be along its edges t form ru be beads 01 ribs 3, 5 made, as aforesaid. vthe coated strip being either wholly or partially A further object is to provide th necessary enclosed, covered, and protected by suitable fabrnechanism for positively feeding the material such as a layer i of thin felt, P the Y through the machine and progressively superlike. Such a felt covered. channel is mounted posing the several layers of material and then in a groove in t dow frame and forms a forming the composite strip or ribbon into chanuide in which the edge of the glassp id nel shape and cutting it off into any predetereither the bare edge of the glass itself or such mined lengths, glass edge encased in a thin jacket of metal, A further object, of the inventi is t prosuch as brass or other material. The rubber vide improved cut-off me hani hi h t protects the metal and the felt absorbs shock and 5 the material on the fly, or while moving. vibration and enables the glass to slide easily, A. further object of the invention is to provide but at h me tim fiers a certain amount the necessary change speed mechanism properly of friction tending to d it in p ace. organized in the machine to compensate for in- In the Present machine, t s C annel is made 40 accuracies in'sizes of parts, friction or drive of y p m manipulation of meiiei base in 40 'the material, etc., so that all parts properly bori form. In other words, the raw material incooperate with the'continuous feed of r cludes a metal band or ribbon formed of steel or terial and delivery of the finished product. e like Which is pp in the orm of coil Other objects of the invention are in-part ob- Wound af e the ieshiflh of moving p ture film. vious and in part will appear more in detail Such ribbon y, for e p be three to flvc 45 hereinafter. thousand feet long. It is sufiiciently thin' and In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a Side 916- flexible to enable it to be wound back and forth vation, partly diagrammatic, of the first half through t e mac along the P i e definedor feed receiving end of a machine embodying Generally speaking, the process of producing the invention; Fig. 2'is a similar view of the the finished channel consists in passing such a o second half or delivery end, of the machine; metal ribbon of proper width through a suitable Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-4, device for coating it with rubber to apply a thin Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a larger film to both surfaces and to form the necessary scale, of the forming mechanism; Fig. 5 is a rubber beads along its edges; next, the rubber I cross section thereof on the line 5-5, Fig. 6: coated ribbon has its surfaces coated withasuit- $5 able adhesive, such as rubber cement; next, the layer of fabric, such as felt, is applied to the strip to cover such of its surfaces as should be either protected or encased, this operation being performed by progressively applying to the strip and folding around it a strip of felt or the like from a coil; next, the felt encased flat ribbon or band is subjected to pressureto cause firm adherence of the felt to the rubber; next, the felt encased ribbon is passed through a forming machine to progressively'shape it into the desired channel or other cross section; and finally, the material is cut off piece by piece into sections of the desired length. During this series of operations, when the end of a metal coil is reached, the leading end of a succeeding coil is welded thereto without interfering with other operations of the machine, which continue as before, and after the welding operation is completed, the feed of the following coil begins. Likewise, when the end of a coil of felt is reached, the leading end of a.

succeeding coil is introduced to the machine and is applied to the rubber coated strip at the proper place, and again, the operation of starting the succeeding felt coil does not interfere with other operations in the machine, which proceed as before.

Referring now to the drawings, and particular- 8 to Figs. 1 and 2, l0 and Illa respectively indicate two coils of'metal. ribbon or band, the first of which is being fed through the machine and the second of which is held'in reserve ready for use. Whichever coil is in use, the ribbon therefrom is led to and through a suitable spot welding machine, conventionally illustrated at I l, but which embodies one or more perforated guides lia through which thematerial passes and between which are located the electrodes lib utilized for the spot welding operation.

From the welding machine the ribbon passes to and through a primary compensator marked generally i2. The ribbon enters through a suitable brake, Fig. 10, which is shown as mounted upon the compensator frame I. It includes a shaft i3 mounted in the frame uprights and carrying a flanged idle roller i5, below which is a clamping member such as a thick disc is fixed to and mounted eccentrically upon an operating shaft I'I having a handle it. The metal ribbon is threaded between members it and I5 and is confined between the flanges of the latter. By

'rotating handle it the eccentric clamping member it may be turned to bring either its low or its high part up and thereby release or clamp and hold the metal strip.

From the clamp the metal strip is wound back and forth over a series of idle rolls, alternate ones of which, marked i9, are located at the top of the stationary compensator frame and. other alternate ones of which, marked 20, are supported on a suitable carriage 2i which rises and falls along guide rods 22. From the last one of the rolls II the strip is led around an idle roller 23 and thence to the extruder 24. Of course, the several rolls II and 20, as well as other guiding and supporting rolls along which the ribbon travels in this machine, are flanged or interflt, after the fashion of members it and it, so as to confine the strip againstlateral movement, as will be readily understood without further reference thereto. g

The extruding; machine, 24 is represented conventionally because it is well known in the rub thing after the fashion of a sausage grinder, including a chamber 24a, Fig. 1, into which the rubber compound is forced by an expressing screw, (not shown) the excess being continuously delivered from said chamber as a flexible rod. The metal ribbon to be coated with rubber is passed through said chamber by proper slots or openings in opposite casing walls, thedischarge slot 25 being accurately shaped with due regard to the dimensions of the metal ribbon to scrape off therefrom all excess rubber compound which otherwise would emerge with the ribbon and thereby leave upon it a coating of uniform thickness on both sides with more or less round thicker portions at its edges to form the rubber beads before referred to. The seats in the rollers 01' guides in which the strip travels from now on of course are properly shaped to take account of the rubber ribs and of the thickness of the felt, after it is applied. The rubber compound is unvulcanized and relatively hot due to friction, and for the purpose of preventing it from adhering to the rolls and guides later on, the rubber coated strip, beyond the extruder, is immediately passed through a. bath of cooling water in a tank 26, being carried beneath guide rolls 21, and thence over a guide roll 28 to a suitable device for removing any excess water. For example, the strip may be passed through a short pipe section 29 to which compressed air may be supplied through a conduit 30 by way of a valve 3!. By adjusting this valve the amount of air may be regulated so as to blow off most of the water, leaving a slight quantity still adhering to the rubber to prevent it from sticking to the guide rolls.

From the water remover the rubber coated strip passes to and around the rolls of a primary or input driving unit 32, one of the rolls of which, marked 33, may be power driven in any suitable manner. This driving unit drags the metal ribbon from the spool i0 all the way through the various elements of the machine up to this point, and its travel beyond this point is produced by other feeding means to be described.

From the primary drive unit 32 the rubber coated ribbon passes to and through a second compensator, marked 34 and which, generally speaking, is of the same form and arrangement as the compensator before referred to including relatively stationary rolls 34a at the top of the frame and other rolls 34b mounted on a rising and falling carriage 35. However, the operation of the carriages 35 and II is somewhat different, as will later appear.

From the last idle roll at the top of the second compensator the rubber coated strip passes to and through a container for adhesive, such as the vessel 33, which includes a guide roll 31 for the strip and a guide member 38 having an exit orifice so shaped as to remove excess adhesive and leave a thin coating thereof on all surfaces, top and bottom.

Beyond the adhesive tank the strip passes to suitable means for applying to it, folding around it, and pressing into intimate engagement with it, a suitable protecting and cushioning fabric, such as a layer of felt, plush or the like. When it is desired to completely cover the strip on all surfaces leaving no rubber compound exposed, the felt strip is made approximately twice as wide as the rubber coated metal strip. It is supplied, like the metal ribbon, in coil form, two coils 39 and 40 being shown. These felt strips may be three to four hundred feet long. These coils are mounted on spindles below the path of the metal strip, and the felt band from one or the other of said coils is led around: an idle ing surfaces. at the side edges thereof progressively folding over the extended portions of the felt at the sides and superimposing them upon the upper face of the rubber coated strip. Yielding members, such as the springs 45, .46 press the felt into firm engagement with the rubber and rubber cement, and particularly such springs as 55 and ii; are of approximately the same width 7 as the distance between the rubber beads. so as to crowd the felt tightly to the rubber along the edges of the heads.

The felt coated strip'now passes between a pair. of feeding and squeezing rollers 41', one of which may be driven, and thence to the forming machine, generally indicated at 48.

The forming machine may be of any suitable character, but usually is provided with rolls, guides, and any other necessary parts to progressively form the felt covered strip into channel or other cross sectional shape. In the arrangement shown the forming machine includes a series-of pairs of cooperating flanged rollers id with intervening guides 50, the rollers and guides successively being Properly shaped for the progressive operation described. Some or all of these rollers are positively driven, the drawings showing all of them intergeared by the shafts and interconnected pinions 52, one of said shafts having a driving sprocket 53.

The details of construction of this forming machine form no part of the present invention, although its manner of operation by progressive formation of a continuously moving fabric covered metal strip is essential for the best results.

For example, it may be of the same form as that shown in a copending application of E. W. Liven- 54, including a. series of rolls 55, one or more or not, however, the channel shaped product of =70 of which, 56, may be positively driven. The feed ing unit 48 alone, however, is sufficient because beyond that unit the material has channel shaped cross section and is more or less rigid and is not laterally flexible as is a flat strip, so

that the forming unit 48 not only can pull the flat'band to it but can push the-channel shaped product beyond it. Whether an additional feeding unit 54 is used indefinite length next moves to and beyond a suitable cut-off device, which is preferably so formed as to cut the material on the fly or while moving. This cut-of! device is generally indicated at 81 and is illustrated in detail in Figs.

8 and-9. It comprises a suitable support'carry- 'of a trough having side walls 98. .pulleys or rollers guiding said belt may be posi- 3 ing a driver, such as an electric motor 58, which continually rotates a shaft 58 on which is mounted a swinging two'armed frame 80. The lower arm of said frame is provided with a sleeve bearing 6| in which is splined to rotate therewith but have axial movement therein a shaft 62 carrying a rotary disc saw blade 83. The driving shaft 58 rotates a pulley 64 from which a belt passes to a pulley 88 on the sleeve 6!. v

The upper arm'of the frame 88 is used for control purposes. On a vertical wall 6'! of the frame,

through an opening 88 in which the felt covered channel to be severed passes, is mounted an operating-motor for producing transverse motion of the saw across the work.This operating motor may be of any suitable form,.butpreferably operates somewhat like the motor of an ordinary windshield wiper. It is therefore more or less conventionally shown. It includes two opposed cylinders 69 in which are pistons (not shown) on opposite ends of the piston rod iii having a pivotal alternately cooperate with a latch ll pivoted at 18 on the stationary frame and connectedto one end of a sliding rod Ila urged by a spring R811 to the right in Fig. 2. The rod l'l'a slides in guides in two uprights 19 which support a rod 80 along which may be adjusteda carrier 8| provided with a clamp screw 82 by which it may be fixed to its guiding rod 88. On said carrier are pivoted an upper lever 83 and a lower lever'83a having a spring trigger 83b. Lever 83 is provided at its upper end with a suitable pivot fitting 83c capable of attachment at any point to the rod ll'a. Trigger 83b snaps past the lower arm of lever 83 when moved to the left in Fig. 15 and serves to positively actuate it when moved to the right. The lower end of lever 83a extends into the path of movement of the channel material andsaid lever is urged in one direction by a weight 8811.

Opposite one end of the saw shaft 82 the frame wall 61 is provided with a double inclined cam.

85, while opposite its other end is one arm of a lever 88 pivoted at 81, its other arm being providedwith a weight 88.

Beyond the saw the material passing from the machine moves intoa position above a constantly travelling endless belt 89 which forms the bottom One of the tively driven or rotated by any suitable means,

suchas by the belt 8|, to cause the upper strand of the belt to move to the left in Fig. 2.

The machine is operated by any suitable power source, such as by'the two speed electric motor 92. This motor directly drives the primary feeding unit 32, no clutch or other power interrupting medium being necessary in this drive train. For example, one .end of a motor driven shaft 82a, may beprovided with a sprocket, not shown, from which a chain 93 passes to an intermediate sprocket on a shaft 84 operatively connected by the chain '95 to the primary feeding unit 82.

The same motor 92, however, also drives the other positively drivenparts of the machine, but in this case preferably through speed changing and power drive interrupting means. For example, the other end of the shaft 92a may be connected by a'chain 88 to drive arrv suitable form of change-speed mechanism, such as what is known as a Reeves drive, conventionally shown in Fig. 12, and from which a driving chain 91 extends to a shaft 98 on which is suitable clutch mechanism, including a controlling clutch lever 09. When said clutch is closed a connected drive is established from the Reeves unit through shaft 98 and by way of achain I00 to the shaft IOI, from which power drive is taken off by the chains I02, I03 and I04 respectively to the feed and pressure rolls 1, to the forming unit 48, and to the feed roll 56. Another chain 9| 56 may drive the final discharge belt 89.

While any form of speed changing mechanism is suitable for the purpose, the drawings show conventionally the Reeves drive which includes a pair of parallel but reversely disposed cone pulleys I06, I01, over which travel an endless driving member I08, the position of which lengthwise of the cone pulleys may be varied by progressive movement of a shifting fork I09 by means of the screw IIO, said screw being rotatable either by hand or by power drive from a small reversible motor III. The power drive from the motor 92 to the speed changing mechanism is by means of the belt 96 to a sprocket on the cone I01 and the power take off is from a sprocket I I 2 on the other cone.

The operation is as follows:

Let us assume that the machine is completely threaded up with both the metal and felt ribbons and all necessary supplies of adhesive, water, compressed air, etc., and is operating under normal conditions. provided with switching mechanism so that it may be operated at either fast or slow speed, but

'this is merely a question of relative capacity and may be disregarded. The clutch at 99 of course is closed and the motor 50 for the cut-off saw is operating so that the saw is continuously rotated. The saw, however, is held stationary at one side of the work by engagement of the latch 11 with one of the shoulders 16, even though the compressed air from the source to a cylinder 69 tends to swing the saw frame to the opposite position, due to the position of the valves, as will be readily understood.

The carrier 2I in the first compensator is at its lowest point, so that the first compensator is filled with metal ribbon extending back and forth vertically between the rollers I9, 20. The carrier 35 at the second compensator is at or near its upper limit of travel, due to control by this carrier of the speed of the change speed mechanism and the rate of rotation imparted to the later units of the machine. For this purpose the carrier 35 at the second compensator carries wiping contacts 35a, 35b which cooperate with upper and lower limit switch contacts H3, I, the former placed near the top of the second compensator frame and the latter at a lower point, said switch contacts being in reverse circuits to the motor III so that closing of one or the other of said switches rotates said motor in one or the other of its two directionsand increases or diminishes the speed of the change speedtrans'mission mechanism. These circuits are both normally open and are closed only momentarily while the wiping contacts 35a, 3512 are at one or the other of the contacts H3, H4. (See Fig. 13.)

The metal ribbon travels from the supply spool idly through the spot welding unit II, thence through the brake and around the rollers of the first compensator, thence to and through the extruder where it receives its coating of rubber, thence through the. water bath-where the hot from. the shaft The circuit to the motor 92 is plastic layer of rubber compound is cooled, thence to the air blast where most of the water is taken off and thence to the primary drive unit 22, which pulls the said metal strip through the machine to this point. Of course, the coils I0 and I0a are preferably provided with suitable friction brakes I I5 to prevent overwinding, but the weight of the carrier 2i is sufficient to overcome the effect of such friction brakes H5 and keep said carrier at its lower point, with the first compensator full of metal ribbon. This compensator maintains a tension on therlbbon or band.

From the first drive unit 02 the metal strip proceeds to and through the second compensator, and thence to the adhesive bath and so on. In this case, assuming the carrier 35 at a high but intermediate point, the switch contacts H3, H4

are open. If the speed of the change speed mechanism is low, so that the later units of the machine are driven at relatively low speed and move the material slower than the rate of input at the first feed unit 32, then the excess of material collects, under more or less tension, at the second compensator and its carrier 35 moves down, until finally, the contacts I I4 are closed and motor II I is rotated to increase the speed of the change speed mechanism and consequently the speed of the later units of the machine until the output overtakes the input. If the rate of output exceeds the rate of input, the contacts H3 are closed and the speed of the Reeves drive is reduced, and

so on.

At the adhesive bath excess adhesive is wiped off, and beyond it the rubber coated strip is applied to the felt strip, the edges of the latter are folded over and the felt is pressed down, then the felt covered strip passes through the forming machine and is shaped to channel cross section. Beyond the forming unit the channel shaped product of indefinite length passes through the secondary feed unit, if one is used, and moves past the rotating saw, which lies alongside its path of movement, until finally the advancing or leading end of the channel engages the lever 03a and moves lever to the dotted line position Fig. 15, thereby tripping the latch 11 out of en-- gagement with the shoulder 16 and releasing the saw frame for actuation by one of its operating pistons. The saw therefore swings toward the work. Its rotating shaft is yieldingly pressed endwise upon the cam 85, and as the saw moves laterally across the work the cam causes it to also .move longitudinally with the work. Moreover,

after the saw has nicked the work the work itself becomes a driver to carry the saw along with it. As a consequence, the saw travels through the work to produce a square out, even though the work continues to move. When the saw has passed clear through the work, the latch 11 engages with the other shoulder 16 and holds the saw stationary ready for another actuation by the newly produced leading end of the strip. The motor valves (not shown) have also been reset and the saw retracted by the weight 88. The cut oil piece of material falls upon the belt 09 and is advanced endwise and is discharged from the machine.

The machine operates in the manner described so long as material is available. when the workman perceives that the roll of metal ribbon is about to become exhausted, he applies his hand to the handle of the brake or clamp shown in Fig. 10, and by operation thereof mechanically seizes and holds the trailing end 01' the exhaustlng coil in such manner as to leave the extrere 2,007,614 end thereof in the zone of operation of the spot welder It. The leading end of the next coil is then pulled up and threaded into. the spot welder and is welded to the trailing end of the exhausting coil. This operation is carried out with care,

' sufficient spot welds being produced to form a firm joint, the edges being filed oif and smoothed so that the double thickness will readily pass through allguiding passages in the machine. The operation takes but a very short time, say but a minute, and while it is going on travel of the material through the machine up to the brake ceases. However, the primary feed unit continues to operate and to drive the material through the extruder and water bath, the carrier 2| rising and supplying material for the purpose from the excess present in the first compensator. The parts are so designed that a complete weld or joint of the character described can be accomplished before the first compensator is exhausted of its excess material. When the jointis perfected thebrake is released and the new coil begins to feed into the machine, the carrier 21 leave the trailing end of the first coil of felt near the guide rollers 43.- Opening the clutch 99 stops the forming unit and the final feed unit 54, if'it is-used, so that movement of the material to absorb any excess. completed the clutch 99 is again thrown in and through thelatter half of the machine ceases. The primary feeding unit, however, continues to supply its material and the second compensator absorbs the excess material thus introduced into the machine by downward travel of its carrier 35. The operator brings up the leading end of the second spool of felt'and lays it in position beneath the rubber coated strip and then forcibly drags the felt covered strip forwardly by hand to thread the felt to and through the folding unit l4 and possibly partly or wholly-through the forming unit 48. This operation takes a very short time, say thirty seconds or so, during which the carrier 35 has sufficient downward travel When the felt splice is the operation proceeds. as before. Of course, during splices of either metal or feltthe motor 92 is run at slow speed, its high speed being utilized only when-no splices are imminent and rapid production is desired.

What Iclaim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising means for operating upon a flexible metal band, a band receiving and storing. means through which said band passes to said operating means, saidreceiving and storing means being so constructed and arranged as to normally contain but a small quantity of said-band but capable of containing a relatively largequantity thereof, means for normally causing continuous movement of said band to said remeans, operator controlled means for temporarceiving and storing means and for normally caus- ,ing continuous movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said" operating ily stopping the movement of said band,from said receiving and storing ,means to said operating means, the parts being so constructed and arranged that upon a cessation of movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said operating means,'said receiving and storing means continues to receive and thereafter contains the band delivered thereto, saidreceiving and storing means including two sets of rollers over which said band travels, the rollers of one of said sets being rotatably mounted upon a vertically movable carriage, driving means for said operating means, and means actuated by said carriage for controlling said driving means.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising means for operating upon a flexible metal band, a band receiving and storing means through which said band passes to said operating means, said receiving and storing means being so constructed and arranged as to normally contain but a small, quantity of said band but capable of containing a relatively large quantity thereof, means for normally causing continuous movement of said band to said receiving and storing means and for normally causing continuous movement of said band from said. receiving and storing means to said operating means, operator controlled means fortemporarily stopping the movement of said bandfrom said receiving and storing means to said operating means, the parts being so constructed and arranged that upon a cessationof movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said operating means, said receiving and storing means continues to receive and thereafter contains the band delivered thereto, said receiving and storing means including two setsof rollers over which said band travels, the rollers of one of said sets being rotatably mounted upon a-vertically movable ca riage, driving meansfor said operating means, and means actuated by vertical movement of said carriage for controlling said driving means.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising means for operating upon a flexible metal band, a band receiving and storing means through which said band passes to said operating means, said receiving and storing means being so constructed and arranged as to normally contain but a small quantity of said band but capable of containing a relatively large quantity thereof, means for normally causing continuous movement of said band to said receiving and storing means and for normally causing continuous movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said operating means, operator controlled means for temporarily stopping the movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said operating means, the parts being so constructed and arranged that upon a cessation of movement of said band from said receiving and storing means to said operating means, said receiving and storing means continues to receive and thereafter contains theband delivered thereto, and means for automatically causing said receiv-, ing and storing means to reduce to a minimum the quantity of the band contained therein upon 

